What it means
Means you’re paying the bill, often for the whole table. It’s the line you drop when you’re feeling flush, trying to impress, or you’ve got a guilty conscience. Can be a lovely treat or a nightmare when someone’s ordered steak, cocktails, and pudding. Also used jokingly when the damage is clearly going to hurt.
Usage examples
"After the curry, Dan waved his card like a hero and said he’d pick up the tab, then remembered the boss had ordered a second bottle of Rioja."
"Don't worry about the bill, I'll pick up the tab tonight."
"He always offers to pick up the tab to impress his clients."
"We'd barely sat down and Priya went, relax, I've got this, I'll pick up the tab, then the lads started ordering sides like they'd won the lottery."
"Cheers for grabbing the takeaway last time, I'll pick up the tab tonight so we're square."
Where it comes from
"Tab" here is the old bar and restaurant word for a running bill, going back to the sense of a tally or small record of what you owe. So if you pick up the tab, you take that whole total onto your own card, cash, or financial pain cave.
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